The Rupee opened steady on Tuesday, hovering near the 90-per-dollar mark, with expectations of central bank support countering underlying dollar demand. The previous session marked a fifth straight decline for the rupee, in which it slipped to an intraday low of 89.9875. After climbing to around 89.25 in the wake of heavy central bank intervention, the currency has been on a weakening path. The pace of losses has remained measured though, due to expectations of further central bank support. Importers and speculators have stepped back in more aggressively following the currency's rally from the near-91-per-dollar levels. He noted that state-run banks were on offer near 90 on Monday, which may have been on behalf of the central bank, though he said it was hard to be certain. Asian peers offered limited cues for the rupee, with regional currencies largely rangebound in thin trading. Traders said this was broadly in line with prior years when reduced participation in the final stretch of the year tends to mute directional signals from Asia, leaving the rupee more dependent on domestic flows. The dollar index was quiet on Tuesday, awaiting the release of the Federal Reserve's December minutes which are expected to reveal divisions inside the central bank about next year's policy pathway. The U.S. dollar was steady on Tuesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's release of its December minutes report, which is expected to reveal divisions inside the central bank about next year's policy pathway. The euro was last at $1.177225, on course for a yearly gain of 13.7%, while the pound fetched $1.3509 and was set for an increase of 8% in 2025. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against rivals, was poised for a 9.6% annual drop, its steepest decline in eight years due to Fed rate-cut bets, shrinking interest rate differentials against other currencies and worries about fiscal deficits and political uncertainty. The index was at 98.033 in early trading, not far from a three-month low. Investor focus this week will be on the Fed minutes after the central bank cut rates earlier this month but cautioned that they could remain on hold in the near term. For next year, policymakers are split about where rates should go. Bank of Japan policymakers debated the need to keep raising interest rates even after a hike in December, with one calling for increases every few months, a summary of opinions showed on Monday, highlighting their focus on inflationary pressures. The yen was broadly flat against the dollar in 2025 despite two rate hikes from the BOJ, one in January and one in December. Investors have been disappointed with the slow and cautious pace of monetary tightening, with the significant long yen position in April completely reversing by the end of the year. Speculators have now got a small short position on the yen, the latest weekly CFTC data showed. The New Zealand dollar fetched $0.5806 and was set for a yearly gain of 3.7%, snapping a four-year losing streak. Oil prices retreated a touch early on Tuesday after rising more than 2% in the previous session, partly driven by spillover from a pullback in precious metals even as escalating Russia–Ukraine tensions left markets grappling with supply disruption fears. Brent crude futures for February delivery , which expires on Tuesday, were down 21 cents, or 0.3%, at $61.73 a barrel as of 0150 GMT. The more active March contract was at $61.30, down 19 cents or 0.3%.......